CS 71 

^1 .G8775 
1806 
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



OF 



MAJOR SAMUEL GREGG. 



1806. 



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AUTOBIOGRAPHY 



OF 



MAJOR SAMUEIv GREGG. 



1806. 



Copy of Manuscript fozmd aino7ig the Papers of VVasJiington 
P. Gregg ^ of Boston^ Mass.^ by Miss Liicinda J. Gregg — eji- 
dorsed: ^^ Samuel Gregg ^ of Peterborough^ N. H . Brief account 
by liira of his family^ ivHtten in 1805-1806^ when he was 66-67 
years of age. Pie zuas )?iy Grandfather and Giving to his age 
and defective memory^ he has made several mistakes in t/ie 
zvithin which is very difficult for me to correct. 

IV. P. Gregg.'' 



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A GENEALOGY OF i\IY ANCESTORS. 

My Grandfather, James Gregg, was a native of Ayrshire, Scot- 
land, emigrated about the year 1690; lived in the north of Ireland 
in County of Derry, in the Parish IMuaskee. Ilis forefathei-s came 
from Scotland, from a place called Aberdeen. He was a bleacher of 
linen cloth. He married a Scotch woman. Her name was Janet 
Cargill. She was from Ilia, Scotland. They had four sons and one 
daughter born to them in Ireland. Their eldest son's name, "William; 
2nd, John; 3rd, Samuel; 4th, Thomas. Their daughter's name, 
Elizabeth. Their youngest son was about ten years old and my 
Grandfather was about forty when the family left Ireland. 

They came to America in the year 1718 and landed at Boston with 
several other passengers, that came in other ships. The ship that they 
came in as passengers went down East and spent the winter at Casco, 
which is now called Portland. They came back the next spring to 
Newbury and a number of them that came over from Ireland that 
year, joined together and got a town.ship granted them, lying partly 
west from Newbury about thirty miles, which they called Nut field. 
They moved into it in the year 1710. My Grandfather. James Gregg, 
was one of the proprietors of the Town and helped to lay it out into 
lots. And he built the first Grist ^lill in the town, and was Captain 
of the first company of the Militia. The town granted him 300 acres 
of land, which was some compensation for his trouble. 

A few years later, my mother's father came over from Ireland. Ilis 
name was Hugh Rankin. He was a native of Ireland. He was sev- 
enteen years old when he was in Londonderry, besieged by tlie Papists 
ninety-six days in the year 1()89, After that he was married to a 
woman whose name was Dunlap. They lived in a town called Don- 
given in the north of In'laml. I cannot tell what county. He had 
eight daughters that u'n \v ui» and not any son. Il<' brought them 
all to America and brought them to Londonderry, for that was the 
name of the town after they had got their charter. My Grandmother 

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Rankin died in Ireland. The names of their daughters are as fol- 
lows: 1st, Mary, 2nd, Martha;, 3rd, Jane; 4th, Esther; 5th, Janet; 
6th, Agnes ; 7th, Anne ; 8th, Dinah. 

I shall turn over to my Grandfather Gregg's family. My Grand- 
father, James Gregg settled all his sons in Londonderry, N. H. His 
oldest son, William, married to my Grandfather Ranldn 's fifth daugh- 
ter, Jinnet Rankin. They had two sons and five daughters. His 
oldest son's name was James; his second son, Hugh. His eldest 
daughter's name was Mary; 2nd, Jinnet; 3rd, Agnes; 4th, Fanny; 
and 5th, Naomi. My father, who was my Grandfather Gregg's second 
son, John, married my Grandfather Rankin's sixth daughter. Her 
name was Agnes. They had eight sons and two daughters. The 
eldest sons, James and his twin mate, Hugh, who died, aged twenty- 
one ; 3rd, John ; 4th, William ; 5th, George ; 6th, Samuel ; 7th, Joseph ; 
8th, Benjamin. Their eldest daughter's name was Elizabeth; 2nd, 
Jinnet. 

My Grandfather Gregg's 3rd son Avhose name was Samuel, married 
Mary Moore. They had four sons and four daughters, that growed 
up. The name of their oldest was James; 2nd, John; 3rd, Samuel; 
4th, David. Their oldest daughter's name was Margaret; 2nd, Eliza- 
beth ; 3rd, Mary ; 4th, Agnes. 

My Grandfather Gregg's fourth son was Thomas. He married 
Agnes Fergeson. They had six children grow up. They went off to 
the Cohos country a number of years ago and my uncle Thomas died 
there. My Grandfather Gregg's daughter married to James Moore. 
They had five sons and four daughters. The name of their oldest 
was James ; 2nd, John ; 3rd, William ; 4th, Hugh ; 5th, Robert. Their 
oldest daughter named Jinnet; 2nd, Elizabeth; 3rd, Sarah; 4tli, Mary. 
My Grandfather Rankin's oldest daughter's name was I\Iary, she 
was married to Allan Anderson. They had no children. His second 
daughter whose name was Llartha married James Doak. They had 
three sons and three daughters. Their oldest son's name was Robert; 
2nd, John; 3rd, James; their oldest daughter's name was Margaret; 
2nd, IMartha; 3rd, Esther. His third daughter whose name was Jane, 
was married to John Crombie. They had three sons and five daughters. 
Their oldest son was Hugh; 2nd, John; 3rd, James; Their oldest 
daughter was Elizabeth; 2nd, Jinnet; 3rd, Agnes; 4th, IMary; 5th, 
Anne. His fourth daughter married Daniel Clyde. They had five 
sons and three daughters. The name of his oldest son, Joseph ; 2nd, 
Hugh; 3rd, John; 4th, Samuel; 5th, Daniel. Their oldest daughter's 
name was Anne; 2nd, Mary; 3rd, Agnes. His seventh daugh- 

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ter (nothing sniil of olh nn«l titli. Mr. Williiiiu mikI .lulm Grofrfr.) 
Anne married Jnnies Cochran, that was takt-n with the 
Indians in tlio year ITlT). Tlicy liad toiir sons and tivc dau},'htoi-s. 
Their oldest son's iianif was James; "Jnd, .lolui ; :{rd. William; 4th, 
Jonathan. Their oldest dau^dit(>r's name was Hannah; 2nd. Liley; 
3rd, Dinah; 4th. IMary; oth, Anne. His ei^rhth dauf,'hter Dinah 
married to \VilIiam Koircrs. They went to the Eastward and settled 
at a town ealled Houcked — at the month of the Caneheck river— 
sinee ealled (ieorpretown. Tlifv liml five sons and three dantrhters. 
The oldest son's name was (Jeortre; l!nd, Thomas; 3rd, Huk'h; 4th, 
John; 5th. AVilliam. Oldest danghter's name was Jinnet; 2nd, 
Llargaret ; 3rd, Anne. 

I shall turn to my Father's family. My father was sixteen years 
old when he eame to Ameriea. ^Ty mother was Ajrnes Kankin. They 
had eicrht sons and two daughters. ]My oldest brother James married 
to Mary ^McCurdy. They had tivc sons and three daughters. Their 
oldest son's name was John ; 2n(l. Joseph ; 3rd, James; 4th, Jonathan ; 
5th, Benjamin. Their oldest daughter's name was Elizabeth; 2nd, 
Hannah; 3rd. ]\Iary. ]\ly brother James went off from Londonderry 
in the year 1790 to York State. Settled in a town called Snosbach, 
since called Litchfield, about 100 miles west of Albany, and about 
miles south of the ^lohawk River. Since that he moved about thirty 
miles farther to the westward, and settled in a town called Auixusta, 
where he settled all his sons but one. His oldest, John, was Captain 
of a Company of Militia, and his son Joseph settled in a town called 
Ackworth. X. H. State. Was Captain of a Company in that town, 
^ly brother Hugh who was a twin with my brother James, lost his 
sight when he was about thirteen years of age, and died at the age 
of 21. So nnieh for my oldest brothers. 

^ly brother John was my father's third .son. He married to 
Elizabeth Gregg. She was the dantrhter of my uncle Samuel Gregg. 
They moved to Peterl)orouirh in the year 17.")".). They had three sons 
and three daughters. Tlnir oldest son's name Benjamin; 2nd, Eben- 
ezer; 3nl. ^Villiam. Their oldest daughter's name was Agnes; 2nd, 
Mary; 3rd, Jinnet. Then liis wife died and he married acrain to 
widow Sturt. Her maiden name was Elizabeth White. daut;hter of 
Patrick White. Three .sons and three daughtei-s. Their oklest son's 
name John; 2nd. James; (no No. 3.) Their oldest daughter's name 
was Betty; 2nd, Jane; 3rd, Fanny. ^ly brother John died in the year 
1789. He was Lieutenant in the Militia. 

^!y brother William, who was my father's fourth son married Bar- 

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bara Aiken. They had two sons and four daughters. The name of 
the oldest son Ebenezer; 2nd, William. His oldest daughter's name 
was Agnes ; 2nd, Jane ; 3rd, R'osanna ; 4th, Betsey. His wife died and 
lie married again to Agnes McCluer. She w^as a native of Ireland. 
She had no children. She died. He married again Widow Abbot. 
Her maiden name was Holt. They had children. He was a Captain 
of Militia and when the American war began went at the Alarm to 
Lexington with his Company, stayed a tour and was relieved by Cap- 
tain Eeid'. Then he returned home. After that there was a call 
for men to York State to stop the progress of the enemy. He went 
as a Major and took a tour at White Plains and then returned home. 
After that there was a call for men to stop Genrl. Burgoyne's army, 
who was invading our Western Territories. He went as Colonel of 
the Militia, and a few days before the battle at Bennington, he v.-as 
sent out to meet a part of Burgoyne's army who were coming right 
on to Bennington. He met them several miles beyond Bennington, 
and finding their force far superior to his, he was obliged to retreat. 
His name was recorded in the history of the American AVar. His 
oldest son, Ebenezer was a captain of a company of the Militia in 
Londonderry, and his second son is a Preacher of the Gospel. 

N. B. ]\Iy brother William lives in Londonderry. 

My sister Elizabeth was my father's oldest daughter. She was 
next in age to my brother AA^illiam. She married to John 
Willison of Blenford, in Mass. She went off with him in the 
year 1761. They had three sons and three daughters. Their oldest 
son was John; 2nd, Andrew; 3rd, George. Their oldest daughter's 
name was Polly ; 2nd, Agnes ; 3rd, Betsey. My brother Willison died 
several years ago. My sister Willison died 1801. 

My brother George was my father's fifth son. He married to 
Sarah Wason. They had not any children. They took my brother 
John's second son, whose name was Ebenezer, when he was a child 
and brought him up and made him their heir. They live in London- 
derry. 

My sister Jinnet, my father's second daughter, she married Wil- 
liam Miltimore. They had four sons and three daughters that grew 
up. The name of his oldest son, Daniel; 2nd, John; 3rd, William; 
4th, James. (No mention of daughter's names.) They lived in Lon- 
donderry in the South Range, so called. My brother Miltimore 's 
son William is a preacher of the Gospel somewhere in the Eastern 
Country, 

N. B. My brother IMiltimore was a Tailor by trade^ 

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I Ava.s Jiiy fathor's sixth son. ]\Iy iiiollaT died when I wjus about 
five years old. ^ly father had a larszc family and a good many of us 
quite small. He was obliged to hire a housekeeper a good many yeai-s 
before my sisters grew up. lie governed the family with u very 
steady hand. He did not indulge too much neither was he too severe. 
He gave us a chance of schooling, equal to our neighbors, which was 
poor euough. in those days. My brothers that were older than I, 
my father gave them land and they began to work for themselves. I 
was obliged to work very hard at home with my father, till I was 
<ilmost eighteen years of age. Then it was in the time of the French 
War. There was great demand for men for to go into the War for the 
fight the French who were invading our Territories. There was a 
great many recruiting officers, some 'listing soldiers for the Provin- 
cial Service and some for the Batoe Service, and some for the Rengen 
(Ranging) Service. As my mind at that time led me to go into the 
Army, I listed wath Capt. James Rogers who was recrniting men for 
the Rengen Service for one year. I marched ofl: with him for Albany 
the 10th of March, the year 1758. We marched on and got about 10 
miles beyond Worcester, and then we got orders to return to Boston 
to go to Cape Breton, which was far against my will, for my mind 
Avas to go to the Westward. AVe got to Boston very much fatigued 
and then we were sent on to Cape William. There was the place of 
rendezvous for the Rengers. There were four Companies of Rangers 
which met there, viz. : Capt. IMcCordes ; Capt. Rogers ; Capt. Stark 
and Capt. Broncas. We stayed there about a fortnight and then went 
aboard of vessels and sailed to Halifax, 

This was in the month of April and we stayed there to about the 
first of June. By this time the Grand Fleet was made np, which 
consisted of about 360 Sail of which 21 wei'e ships of the line. Some- 
time about the 1st of June the whole fleet sailed from Halifax for 
Cape Breton. They arrived in Caberrus Bay in {ilain sight of the 
French intrenchment. The 8th day early in the morning, we were 
put in boats and pushed to the shore and stormed their trenches and 
drove the French into the City, which was about three miles. Then 
retreated back toward the Bay and camped that night. Then the 
siege began which lasted 46 days. The City surrendered with all its 
contents to the British arms. Sometime in the month of August a 
party of men was sent to the Island of St. Johns. About 400 com- 
manded by Capt. Roler. There was half of Capt. Roger's Company 
an one-half of Capt. Stark's. I went with Capt. Rogers to St. John's 
Island and was there about three months and helped to build a Fort 






and then returned to Cape Breton, in the month of November and 
there was our headquarters for that winter. In the month of ]\Iarch 
Lieutenant Wm. Duffee was sent out with a party of men to see if 
there were any French on the back side of the Island of Cape Breton. 
He took with him about 40 men. I went with him. We took with us 21 
days provision. We went most part of the way upon snow shoes. We 
took a number of French prisoners and returned in fifteen days. 
AVhen the Spring opened the British fleet met in Cape Breton harbor 
and sailed for Quebec about the 4th of June under the command of 
Admiral Sandos and Genrl. Wolfe. My time was out that I had en- 
listed for — I insisted on my discharge and got it and got a passage 
for Boston. The 8th day of June we sailed from Cape Breton and 
in nine days we arrived in Boston. This was in 1759. 

I came home to Londonderry to my father's and worked with him 
that summer. The next winter I went to my brother James to learn 
to make foot wheels, for he was a Wheel Maker. The next Spring I 
set up Wheel making at my father's and worked about one year and 
found wheel making was no great object. I thought I must have a 
farm. My two youngest brothers still lived with my father— viz. : 
Joseph and Benjamin. I saw that my father's mind was to have 
them live at home. I knew that I must turn out somewhere. My 
father told me that he had lands in Peterborough lying close by my 
brother John's and that he would give me a lot if I would go there 
and live. I told him I would go and see it. Accordingly I did, 
and after I had seen his lands in Peterborough, I told liim that if he 
would give me such a lot that I would go to work on it. In the year 
1762 I worked upon my land all Summer. In the Fall of the j^ear, 
I put up a frame of a house, and returned to my father's in London- 
derry in the winter. In the March following I was married to Agnes 
Smiley. She was a daughter of John Smiley of Haverhill and I 
moved her in June, to Peterborough in the year 1763. I got my 
house boarded and my chimneys up and got into it in the month of 
July and began housekeeping. We had a dull prospect. I had but 
little land cleared and no roads, and four or five miles from either 
Grist Mill or Saw Mill. No minister and few neighbors. We were 
but young and it was very discouraging to us, it being a new town 
and we were not used to the woods. 

Notwithstanding the many difficulties that appeared before us, we 
kept up good courage in hopes for better times. In the course of 
about one year after we were married, my wife brought me a son and 
seeing that we had addition to our family, then we began to work 

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on our laud for to pet support for ourselves and ofl'sprin*;, as beiufr 
at a great distance from our relatives, we did not depend on any as- 
sistance from any of them. We were obliged to work very hard. \Ve 
got a barn up the year after we came to Peterborough. I got land 
cleared and got some cows and oxen and a horse and in a few years, 
through the blessing of God we had a living equal to the rest of our 
neighbors. Before the War broke out, I was appointed a Sergeant 
of a Company of the Militia in Peterborough. I served in that equal 
to any Sergeant in any Company, although I was the youngest Ser- 
geant in the Company. A few years after a good many of the old 
officers resigned their commissions and there was choice of new 
officers in our Company. I was chosen Second Lieutenant of the 
Company. I served in that station a few years, then the war broke 
out between Britain and America. I went with the Company at the 
alarm to Lexington, more as a leader than a Connnander, for I looked 
on my commission as quite dead. I stayed with the Company about 
eight or ten days and then returned home. By this time we had four 
sons and one daughter living. I worked on my farm and did not go 
into the army, although I had a great inclination to go into the army, 
but happened not to. A few years after I was chosen 1st Lieut, of a 
Company. After the war broke out, this State began to regulate the 
Militia and divide the State into regiments, and I was honored with 
a IMajor's Commission in the 23rd Regiment, commanded by Francis 
Blood, Colonel. I officiated in that station at one muster, which was at 
Temple and reviewed by Genrl. Bates and Genrl. Lovell, who was our 
Brigade General, and a few years after I resigned my commission and 
the regiment was filled up with new field officers. This ended my 
Military ^Matters, after serving as an officer of one kind or another 
for nigh twenty years. 

During the time of the American War with Great Britain, I did not 
go into the war, but I assisted in carrying on the war, equal to any in 
town according to my interest— I stayed at home with my family. The 
war between America and Great Britain commenced on April 19th, 
1775, and lasted to the year 1782. Then a Peace was made between 
Britain and America. And about the year 1785 our youngest dauiih- 
ter was born. Then we had four sons and four daughtei-s, and iK'ar 
about this time our oldest son was married to Kachel Stuart. I gave 
him a lot of land about one mile from where I live. They had 
three children; two sons and a daughter. Their oldest son's name 
was John; he died when he was about two years old. Their second 
son's name was Hugh. He was born Dec. 12th, 1787, and Iheir 

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daughter Rachel was born Jan. 8th, 1789. His wife died in about 
three weeks after Rachel was born. Then he married again to Han- 
nah Hardy and they had five children when they left this town. They 
went off to York State in the year 1800, and settled in a town called 
Augusta, Hugh and Rachel we took and brought up, Hugh was our 
second son. He married to Sarah Holmes, They settled in Green- 
field, They have had eight children, seven are now living. Our oldest 
daughter's name is Sarah. She married to Capt. David Steele. He 
is now a Colonel, She has had seven children. They are all dead 
but one. Our 3rd daughter's name was Anne. She was married to 
James Gregg of Londonderry and had three children— two that 
lived— a boy and a girl. She died in the year 180-4:, She left the 
care of her son with his Grandfather Benjamin Gregg and she left 
the care of her daughter ^^^th her sister Polly Gregg. The name of 
the boy is Franklin; the name of the girl is Lucinda, Our 3rd son 
was Samuel. Went off to York State when he was about 21 years of 
age, and stayed there four or five years. He married there to Lucinda 
Campbell. She lived Avith him about two years and died. 

Then he left York State and settled in Boston, He married to 
Elizabeth Hopkinson, They have three children; two twin boys 
and a girl. The names of his boys are "Washington, and the other 
Jefferson. He follows the Chair making business, etc., etc. Daugh- 
ter's name Elizabeth. Our 4th son's name was George. I settled 
him at home with me and gave him part of my farm. He built a 
house and married to Sarah Moore, daughter of Lieut. AVm. jMoore of 
this town. They lived with me two or three years, then sold his part 
of the farm and bought another farm about one mile from my house 
and lived there three years, and sold that farm and went and bought 
in York State and moved off from here in the month of Nov, 1805. 
They had three children, two boys and one girl. Their oldest son 
died in this town. He was about five years old. His name was Ste- 
phen, The other two the}'' took with them. The boy's name is 
George, The girl's name was Nancy, Our 3rd daughter's name is 
Polly. She took great care of her mother in her sickness and has 
kept my house since her mother died. She remains single as yet. 
Our 4tli daughter's name is Betsey. She was married in Feb., 1806,^ 
to Wm. Hutchings of Boston. She went off to Boston to live 6th of 
May, 1806. Her husband is a Chairmaker. They live in Hanover 
at Boston. Hugh and Rachel we took and brought up. They were 
our son John's children that his first wife had to him. Hugh lived 
with me till he was about 18 years of age. Then I put him to John 

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Crombie of New Boston, to learn the carpenter trade in April, 1805. 
And his sister Kachel lived with us until she was about 17 yt^ars of 
ac:e, then she went off to (iroton to learn the Tailor's trade with 
Gilbert Smith. She went otf in Feb., 180G. 

I have given a small sketch of my family. I shall mention some- 
thing: respectinj? myself and my wife. AVe both enjoj'ed for a UmiH 
lime a considerable good state of health. ]\Iy wife was very healthy 
till she had nnrsed all her children. Then she nursed two grand 
children which wore her almost out. She began to be very weakly and 
for about ten years before she died, she failed very fast and became 
very weakly and was so far gone many times, that her life was many 
times despaired of. At last she fell into a consumption about two 
years before she died. It seemed to wear her away very fast, not- 
withstanding all the doctors we employed or the medicines and direc- 
tions were to no purpose. She kept growing weaker eveiy day to 
lier last. She died Feb. 2nd, 1803, in the 60th year of her age. AVe 
were married in ]\Iareh, 1763. AVe lived together almost fortv vears. 
As for myself, I have enjoyed a tolerable state of health for a long 
time, till about the year 1799, I was taken with a bad cough and 
shortness of breath, which settled in the Asthma disorder and has 
continued with me ever since. But before that in the year 1797 I had 
a sore begin on one of my hips. I had it opened and it became a 
running sore, and ran about four years and then dried up. And in 
about the year 1801, I fell and broke one of my legs and put my 
ankle out of joint. Old age and infirmities my health is very much 
impaired. I am scarcely able to keep about, but I have great reason 
to thank God that he has continued me so long in the land of the 
living. 

I was born in Londonderry, X. 11., in April, 1739, and I am now 
in my 67th year, and I have wrote these few memorandums which I 
have collected in the year 1806. 

Samuel Gregg. 



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